Uncertainty Ahead In Weir Comeback

Mike Weir has been relatively quiet since elbow surgery last year, but that will change this week when he makes his 2012 debut on the PGA Tour at Pebble Beach.

In this critical season in Weir’s career, there really isn’t too much he can say until he tests the elbow and his struggling game in a few competitive rounds, but if he stumbles early, the more difficult it will become for him to find tournaments in which to play. Read more

Weir Prepares For Uncertain Future

He seems to be an obvious resource, but don’t bother asking Mike Weir for any insight into who’s going to win the FedEx Cup later this week.

“I can’t even really bring myself to watch any golf right now,” said the 2003 Masters champ. “I don’t feel like it because it just gets me fired up and I want to grab a club and get out there.”

That would be a big mistake for Weir who underwent surgery on the extensor tendon in his right elbow a little more than a month ago following a season in which he made just two cuts in 15 events before withdrawing from the RBC Canadian Open in Vancouver. Read more

Weir Out Three To Six Months After Surgery

After withdrawing from the recent RBC Canadian Open, Mike Weir has undergone surgery on the extensor tendon in his right elbow. The surgery was done on Thursday and Weir is expected to be out of action for three to six months.

The surgery was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews at his practice in Pensacola, Fla.

“My elbow has caused me problems over the past year and during the RBC Canadian Open, it essentially became unplayable,” said Weir.

“Dr. Andrews is the best in the business and it’s my hope with patience and diligent post-surgery rehab, I will be able to put my elbow problems behind me and look forward,” he said.

Weir WDs From Open

Mike Weir has withdrawn from the RBC Canadian Open, citing soreness in the elbow he injured last year.

Weir had shot a four-over 74 in the first round and was four over through six holes, including back-to-back double bogeys, when he pulled out at eight over for the tournament.

Weir added that he didn’t want to take the chance of aggravating an injury that forced him to miss the latter portion of last season.

“It’s disappointing, but I’m not going to go down that road again. I couldn’t open a bottle of water this morning after hitting those shots out of the rough,” said Weir.

“I had a couple this morning, and it was starting to feel like it did last year, so I’m just not going to make that mistake again,” he added.

Weir said he isn’t sure when he will return to play.

Weir’s Challenge Is Confidence, Not Swing

Mike Weir has gone back to the stack and tilt, but his swing may only be part of the problem.

He looked tense in the first round of the RBC Canadian Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, where he was four-over and already in danger of missing the cut. Read more

Weir’s Out Until The Masters

Mike Weir won’t play again until the Masters after having a cyst on his left wrist drained.

The cyst forced Weir to withdraw from last week’s Puerto Rico Open. He will also miss next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.

“I’m obviously disappointed because I want to be on the golf course and getting my game back on track, but I’m not going to make the same mistake I made last year, trying to play through an issue that requires treatment,” said Weir.

“Having it done this week will allow me to be ready to play the Masters and the rest of the season, which is my top priority right now.”

Follow Your Own Advice, Beez

After blasting headline writers and the golf media in general after a story he wrote during last year’s RBC Canadian Open claiming that Mike Weir was washed up, Sun Media’s Steve Buffery turned his attention on me because I disagreed with him in a follow-up column. Read more

Weir And Friends Raise Considerable Coin

Samuel L. Jackson, Toronto Maple Leaf captain Dion Phaneuf and New Jersey Devil goalie Martin Brodeur did more than play golf Monday at St. George’s Golf and Country Club during the Mike Weir Charity Classic.

They also made a serious contribution to various children’s charities as the event raised $350,000 for the Mike Weir Foundation,.

The Stars Come Out For Weir Classic

Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson and comedian George Lopez headline the stars who will play in the second annual Mike Weir Charity Classic to be played prior to the RBC Canadian Open on Monday, July 19, at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto.

They will be joined by NHL players such as new Toronto Maple Leaf captain Dion Phaneuf, Steven Stamkos, Rick Nash, Martin Brodeur and Jon Montgomery and Entourage star Kevin Dillon.

Tom Cochrane will also be a part of the field as will former CFL quarterback Damon Allen. They will be joined by PGA Tour players such as Stephen Ames, Anthony Kim, Fred Couples, Luke Donald, Camilo Villegas, Paul Casey, Sean O’Hair and Retief Goosen.

Net proceeds from the event will go to the Mike Weir Foundation.

“I’m thrilled so many friends have agreed to come out and support my charity again this year,” said Weir.

“I’m grateful for the time these players and celebrities have taken out of their busy lives to come and support my foundation.  Thanks to RBC and Golf Canada for helping realize my vision to raise more awareness and support for the various children’s programs we fund.”

Weir Going Into Ontario Hall of Fame

Mike Weir will become the 55th inductee into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame on Wednesday at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge, Ont.

The ceremony will mark the 10th anniversary of the Hall of Fame and will be hosted by CTV’s Rod Black. The 2003 Masters champ will not be on hand due to his PGA Tour schedule, but he will accept the induction via a video address.

The evening will also feature a multimedia presentation, highlighting Weir’s career to date, as well as memorabilia from the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, which inducted Weir in 2009.

For more information on the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame, click here.

Weir’s In For Skins

Mike Weir has become the first player confirmed to participate in the 2010 Telus World Skins Game to be played June 21-22 at Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria.

It will be Weir’s eighth appearance in the event. In his previous Skins Games, Weir won 22 skins for a total of $450,000.

More player announcements are expected in the next few weeks.

Industry Needs To Follow RBC Lead

Back in June, GNN asked the poll question, “Do up-and-coming players get enough attention from the Canadian golf industry, media and fans of the game before they make it to the PGA or LPGA Tour?”

The response was overwhelming to say the least as 96 per cent of those who answered said developing Canadians weren’t getting enough attention, while only four per cent felt they were getting enough attention.

The title sponsor of the Canadian Open made some announcements on Thursday that it’s making a commitment to support developing players from this country.

Not only is RBC extending its relationship with PGA Tour players Mike Weir and Stephen Ames, but it is also getting behind the Royal Canadian Golf Association’s national team program and amateur championships.

The third component of Thursday’s announcements involved players breaking on to the PGA and LPGA Tours as RBC announced it will offer funding and financial guidance to players such as Graham DeLaet, Chris Baryla, Samantha Richdale and Lisa Meldrum.

You can read the entire story in the News Now section on the home page, but it’s clear that RBC is taking its commitment to golf beyond its high-profile role as Canadian Open sponsor and turning its attention to the development of players from this country.

It’s a lead that the entire Canadian golf industry needs to follow as GNN blogger Tom Jackson pointed out in this blog a couple of weeks ago. Read more

RBC Lends Support To Development

Over the past couple of weeks, GNN readers have been hearing about how organizations such as the Royal Canadian Golf Association, Canadian PGA and Canadian Tour have been discussing various means to support developing professionals from this country.

Add the Canadian Open’s title sponsor to the list as RBC has announced an initiative to help emerging professionals make the transition to the PGA and LPGA Tours, one of three announcements made on Wednesday.

RBC will also become a partner in the RCGA’s Team Canada high performance program and its national amateur championships, as well as putting company branding on the golf bags of Mike Weir and Stephen Ames, who become “Team RBC” ambassadors.

The initiative that is designed to support players such as PGA Tour rookies Chris Baryla and Graham DeLaet, as well as Lisa Meldrum and Samantha Richdale on the LPGA Tour will provide a combination of funding and comprehensive financial planning and private banking services.

The golfers who sign up for the program will become RBC ambassadors and have corporate branding on their golf bags.

“This step is a very important element of my development as a professional and my hat is off to RBC for taking a leadership role here and identifying the need,” DeLaet said.

“It’s clear they really get it and are doing an admirable job connecting all the dots through support of Canadian player development from the grassroots all the way up to those of us fortunate enough to make the leap to the PGA Tour,” he added.

The RBC initiative comes at a time when not only DeLaet, Baryla, Richdale and Meldrum have graduated to the highest levels of professional golf, but also when high-calibre Canadian amateurs, some on the verge of turning pro, are becoming recognized internationally.

RBC chief brand and communications officer Jim Little says the accomplishments of national team players such as Nick Taylor, Matt Hill and Jennifer Kirby, among others, highlight the importance of getting behind that program and the national championships.

“Extending our support to Canada’s national amateur championships not only allows talented Canadian players to compete in world class competitions on home soil, but also offers so many more golf enthusiasts and volunteers across the country the long-term opportunity to get involved and be a part of this great sport,” said Little.

RCGA executive director Scott Simmons agreed.

“Programs that promote grassroots and amateur competition as well as those that help support training and high performance opportunities are critical to Canadian golfers developing their competitive potential,” said Simmons.

RBC also announced multi-year extensions of its relationships with Weir and Ames.  RBC becomes the official bank for both players, who will have RBC branding featured prominently on their golf bags.

The recent announcement builds on existing relationships in which RBC is presenting sponsor of the Stephen Ames Cup junior competition between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. The Mike Weir Foundation is the national charity partner for the Canadian Open.

“I have been fortunate to have had a very close partnership with RBC for a number of years now and I’m thankful to see that continue,” Weir said.

“More importantly, however, I’m excited about their support at the amateur level and their investment in the future of Canadian golf,” he added.

“We are seeing many great, young Canadian golfers coming up and the support of RBC will not only help them succeed, but will provide the opportunities for even more amateurs to pursue their dreams in the sport.”

Ames agreed.

“Canadians are showing every week that they can compete with the best in golf,” he said.

“RBC’s grassroots commitment to the game will be a boost to the next generation of players that will pay dividends for years to come.

“Their strong commitment to charity, both through the RBC Canadian Open and my own charitable foundation, is also something that I’ve appreciated personally, not only for the future of the game, but also for the future of the programs that benefit communities across Canada,” said Ames.

Weir and Ames join rising tour star Anthony Kim with RBC branding on their bags.

“Over the past two years, supporting the RBC Canadian Open has increased our brand profile and given us an opportunity to engage so many of our clients, employees and community partners in an event that they enjoy,” said Little.

Weir Applauds Support For Young Pros

With his 40th birthday on the horizon, Mike Weir was all about looking forward in his career as he prepared for his 2010 debut on the PGA Tour at this week’s Bob Hope Classic in La Quinta, Calif.

He was willing, however, to reflect back to the early stages of his career when informed that associations within the Canadian golf industry have been discussing ways of supporting developing professionals from this country, although nothing official has been decided yet.

“We’ve always been these independent guys that go out and try to either get a corporate sponsor or a businessman to kind of get you going and get you started in the right direction, somebody who loves golf that wants to help a young guy to get going,” said Weir.

“If the RCGA and CPGA are thinking about setting aside some kind of fund to help some of these young guys, I think it’s a great idea,” he added. Read more

Weir’s Induction Is A Home Town Celebration

Considering his national profile, it seemed natural that 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir might be officially inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame during RBC Canadian Open week at Glen Abbey, where the hall is located.

“Originally, we talked about that, having it possibly around the Canadian Open,” said Weir, who already had a busy week planned at the national championship in July with the inaugural Mike Weir Charity Classic, as well as playing in the tournament.

“It would have been too much to then try to focus on the golf tournament, as well,” said Weir, who discovered that other inductees into the hall had held their induction ceremonies at their home clubs.

As a result, Weir will become the 64th member of the hall of fame this Saturday at a ceremony held at Huron Oaks in his home town of Bright’s Grove, Ont.

“That made sense to me, to have it at Huron Oaks,” he said. “Originally, I didn’t know that I could do that. When that was brought to my attention, I said let’s go to Huron Oaks and do it.

“I’m excited to have the ceremony in Bright’s Grove, at Huron Oaks. This is where it all began for me,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity to share this moment with a lot of friends, family and a lot of people who have been very supportive of my career. I just thought it was, in that regard, the right thing to do,” said Weir, who says he hasn’t been around the old hood much recently, so it will be good to get.

“This past year, I didn’t get back to play at all,” he said. “They’ve been making some changes out there and probably, this time of year, I won’t be able to see the changes.

“I don’t get back as often as I’d like, but I still keep in touch. It was just a great atmosphere. I was one of the younger guys in the group that worked in the backshop and worked in the pro shop – just the characters that we had around.

“The whole atmosphere we had around there, it was a fun place to go practice and play and go to work. I was just a golf rat.

“I was just out there all the time. That’s where I wanted to be. I’m sure my parents were pretty happy about that. They didn’t have to worry about me too much in the summer,” said Weir.

These days, kids in Bright’s Grove are having fun at Mike Weir Park, which took that name the year after he won the Masters, typical of the way his home town has supported him over the years, according to Weir.

“We had a little ceremony there and that was really cool,” he said. “Some of the kids from the public school I grew up going to, they all came down and had a little pep rally kind of thing.

“The response has been fantastic,” added Weir. “It’s a tight-knit community, a hard-working community. I still stay close with a lot of my friends and it’s almost like, when we see each other, we just pick up where we left off.

“It never feels any different.”

Baryla Earns PGA Tour Card

Chris Baryla of Vernon, B.C., tied for seventh at the Nationwide Tour Championship in Charleston, S.C., yesterday, a finish that left him among the top 25 on the money list who graduate to the PGA Tour in 2010.

Baryla shot rounds of 69-70-70-68 to finish at 11-under-par and earn his fifth top-10 in a season that has been plagued by back problems.

“To be able to come back after having my back injury and Monday qualifying into the events and make it into the top 25 is awesome,” said Baryla, who won the Chattanooga Classic a couple of weeks ago.

“This is such a great opportunity for me to go to the PGA Tour and play against the best players in the world. It hasn’t even hit me yet to say exactly how I feel right now,” added Baryla, who tied for eighth at this year’s RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont.

Calgary’s Dustin Risdon tied for 12th in Charleston, but wound up 37th on the money list, while Jon Mills of Belleville, Ont., tied for 50th to place 54th on the money list.

On the PGA Tour, Mike Weir flirted with a 59, but wound up settling for a 61 at the Frys,com Open in Scottsdale, Az., yesterday to tie for sixth at a tournament he won two years ago. Calgary’s Stephen Ames tied for 23rd.

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